1)What is the setting of the Story?
The setting of “Lather and Nothing Else” by Hernando Tellez is in a barber shop because when Captain Torres enters, he asks for a shave. The story appears to be set in the 1800’s to 1900’s because the barber appears to be using a straight razor. It appears that the plot of the short story also happens during a revolution because when Captain Torres talked to the barber, he said “We caught the leaders. Some of them we brought back dead, the others are still alive but they’ll all be dead soon” (p. 13). This implies that there are two sides fighting over something and that there must be a war happening and is proven true when the barber states that he is secretly a revolutionary.
2)What is the conflict
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Suspense is built when Captain Torres closes his eyes while a razor is so close to his neck. This builds suspense since the reader wonders if the barber would take the risk and kill Captain Torres. Also, suspense is built when the conversation between the barber and Captain Torres becomes a bit suspicious. Although Captain Torres does not show any sign of knowing that the barber is a revolutionary, he continues to talk about executing the rebels, and continues to make the conversation more bloody. For example, when the barber asks, “will it be like the other day?” (p. 15) Captain Torres says in response, “it may be even better” (p. 15). It is almost like Captain Torres is tempting the barber to reveal that he is a rebel. This builds suspense because the reader might suspect that Captain Torres knows that the barber is a rebel and might kill the rebel. Another part where suspense is built is when the barber keeps on debating within himself if he should murder or not murder Captain Torres. Because a hair cut does not take that long, the opportunity slowly slips out of the barbers grasp as time ticks away. This builds suspense since the barber would have to make his move soon or else a …show more content…
For example, he tests the barber by entering the barber shop in the first place. He knows that the barber is a rebel and also knows that the barber could potentially kill him. He also keeps on talking about how he is going to murder the rebels. For example, he says, “we caught the leaders. Some of them we brought back dead, others are still alive. But they’ll all be dead soon” (p.13). This makes the barber more angry and increasing his hatred on Captain Torres because he keeps on talking about how he would murder the rebels. Captain Torres continues to test the barber when he closes his eyes when the barber begins to give him a shave. This makes Captain Torres more vulnerable to the barbers razor since as the barber explains to the reader, “I could cut his throat, so, swish, swish! He would not even have time to moan, and his with his eyes shut, he would not even see the shine of the razor or the gleam in my eye” (p. 16). Captain Torres continues to test the barber when he states that he will kill all the rebels and make it even bloodier than last time. It is almost like he is trying to convince the barber to kill him by saying these
You may sometimes ask yourself “What exactly is suspense?” and “How do authors build suspense in their stories?,” or “How does the audience react to suspense?”. The authors of “Ruthless”and “The Cone” share a similar approach to creating suspense in their use of dramatic irony. However, the author of “Ruthless” additionally uses conflict to build suspense, but the author of “The Cone” uses setting and point of view (POV).
It is difficult to decide which is the right decision to make when a situation presents itself. Normally, people carefully think over the consequences both positive and negative and we may believe that we have made the right choice although, others may not think so. The barber's choice in the short story, "Lather and Nothing Else" written by Hernando Tellez, is negotiable. He is secretly a member of the resistance that is fighting against the government. The conflict is introduced when Captain Torres, an executioner, walks into the barber’s shop to get shaved. That gives the barber an opportunity to kill him and become a hero. As the barber shaves him he contemplates every possible outcome of
However, only he knows this because he hides it in his innermost thoughts and doesn't show who he is on the outside. For example, when he talks to the Captain, he doesn't fully reveal his intentions to kill him, but rather has small talk with him. However, when he thinks to himself, it is a different story. "I could cut his throat, so, swish, swish! He would not even have time to moan, and with his eyes shut he would not even see the shine of the razor or the gleam in my eye." (pg 3) This reveals that the barber can only be seen for who he really is in his
There is not a contradiction between what the narrator says and his behaviours. There is not a contradiction because The barber/Narrator did not kill Torres proving his point that he is a better person than Torres and is not a killer. During the shaving, the barber states "I don't want blood on my hands, just lather that's all." which shows that the barber did not have the intent to kill Torres he just wanted to be a barber. A person can be a rebel without being a bad person. Furthermore, another example showing that the barber is not a murderer because of his comments is because everyone gets thoughts like those sometimes. If they were put in a circumstance where they had their enemy in the grasp of their hands. They are normal thoughts if
Patricia Bray uses menacing diction to further establish a mood of suspense. She uses some select words like startled, darkness, and terror to establish a certain effect. “He could almost taste the terror as it rose up and threatened to overwhelm him.” As these words suggest in this quote from the passage.
The barber stands amid the clash between the military and the revolutionaries. He is secretly
The story shows that the author/barber is too weak to kill a human being; he would feel remorse, and guilt. He is not selfish, and he is quite intelligent with his use of thoughts. The barber made his decision, with no direct consequences, they weren’t worth it. He “didn’t want blood on his hands.” The captain entered the shop for a haircut, normal or not, and that’s all he got. The local barber remains in his barber shop, even after facing his worst enemy and making difficult choices. The dilemma in this story is very large; he doesn’t know the consequences of each of the two choices. Two tough choices, both not very pleasant, he made the right choice. And the war continues unsolved. The ending is very indeterminate because you’re left asking yourself many questions about the story. You don’t know what happens to the barber or even the captain in that case. Did the captain rat out the barber and kill him? Or does he leave him be due to his innocence? Does the captain continue killing, even after saying how difficult it is? You’re wondering so many things about this story. And all questions are left
Suspense is created in “The Destructors” by means of the time frame in which the gang has to do their work. The gang expected Old Misery to return home on a certain day and at a certain hour. Suspense is quickened when Old Misery returned home early and some gang members were still inside. The suspense heightened yet again as a gang member tried to stall Old Misery outside the house. Eventually, Old Misery was lured into his “Lav”, where he was locked for the duration of the home’s destruction. Suspense built in “The Rocking Horse Winner” as Paul rocked furiously for the name of the Derby’s winner. Suspense heightened as the winning name came to Paul, because he had recently had a dry spell and there was doubt concerning his luck.
When the barber thinks to himself, “But I don’t want to be a murderer”. No, sir, I am not. You came in to be
As I was about to walk in the barber shop, I suddenly remembered what my Lieutenant had to say to me, “don’t go in the shop, he’ll kill you, he’s a rebel”. While these interpretations have a chance of being valid, I continue to believe that killing isn’t an easy task due to the repercussions that come along with it. When I entered the barber shop, I could see an individual who was tall and was carrying a muscular build. At this point of time, the barber had not yet noticed me, so I took a few steps and made sure I was visible in his peripheral vision. Eventually, I was noticed and a few seconds later, conversation was initiated on how my beard is four days late a shave. After several minutes of discussion, I was indeed ready for my face to become hairless. He sat me down in his
4. Suspense is the uncertainty or anxiety a reader feels about what will happen next in a story. How does Remarque use suspense in the Gerard Duval episode?
Though the barber and Ronnie are in almost parallel situations, their values and pressure from society play a major role in determining the type of decisions they make, and in turn the eventual conclusion of the issue at hand. In “The Day of the Last
The sniper and the barber have numerous things in common. Both characters are very gentle on what they choose to do. They think over things that they believe could affect them whatsoever. In “The Sniper”, the story states, “He paused for a moment, considering whether he should risk a smoke.”. This means he would think about what consequences would come with his choices. In “Lather and Nothing Else”, it declares, “I would have to shave his beard just like any other, carefully, neatly, just as though he were a good customer, taking heed that not a single pore should emit a drop of blood.”. It proves that the barber would have to carefully do his job just as if he was an honest, normal and respectful customer. Additionally, they both do their job. And are very commited too. The barber says, “ No, sir. You came in to
In “Lather and Nothing Else” a short story by Hernando Tellez, the author uses suspense to develop an elaborate story. In this story a barber, who remains unnamed, must decide whether or not to kill a man named Captain Torres. Tellez develops suspense throughout his story by using two elements paranoia and pace. The first technique Tellez uses to develop suspense in the story is by pacing, pacing of the story and in the barber’s internal dialogue.
“Lather and Nothing Else” by Hernando Tellez is a short story about two enemies who encounter each other in a barber shop. The story starts when Torres comes into the barber’s shop and asks for a shave. He begins to tell the barber about the leaders he has caught, who were revolutionaries, and his future plans for them. The barber is secretly a revolutionary, but Torres does not know this. The barber thinks to himself, “I was secretly a revolutionary, but at the same time I was a conscientious barber, proud of the way I did my job.”(258) and realizes he values his dignity. The barber resists the temptation of hurting Torres with the blade in his hand and decides he would rather keep his reputation of a good barber than being a murderer